214. Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha in Sillanwali, district Sargodha. (Madrassa Hussainia Hanfia)

Sillanwali is a small town in the district of Sargodha, almost 30 kilometers southwest of Sargodha city, the district headquarters. The attraction that took me to this peaceful and well-planned town was an old gurdwara. I watched a video on YouTube and included it in the list of places I have marked for my exploration.

I visited this place on 14 February, 2026. The whole area around Sillanwali is famous for Kinnow orchards. The well-irrigated and fertile agricultural lands produce many other crops and fruits as well. The road was good and the weather pleasant; we reached there in around 45 minutes. And after a few minutes and a few enquiries, we found the gurdwara.

Location:

The gurdwara is located at 31°49’32.55″N, 72°32’27.92″, in Block 3 of Sillanwali. In my previous article about the Sanatan Dharam Temple, Sargohda, we noted that after the annexation of Punjab in 1849 AD, the British government developed plans to establish a vast system of irrigation in the dry lands of the western Punjab. These newly developed and populated areas were called colonies, mostly named after the rivers from which these canals were drawn. One such colony was the Jhelum colony, which existed between the river Jhelum and the Chenab, a region historically called Jech Doab.

Layout:

The gurdwara building is somewhat different from the design of more traditional gurdwaras, which are usually four-sided buildings, open from all sides and topped with a dome. It mainly consists of a big prayer hall on the right side, while on the left there is a langar khana. The Sachkhand, where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept, is located in front of the main entrance. The hall is quite spacious and can accommodate a big congregation of devotees. The roof is at a considerable height and properly ventilated. There is a verandah in front of the hall, supported with arches. On the first floor, there are galleries overlooking the hall, but they now serve as classrooms. The building consists of two floors. The rooms on the first floor were probably used for guests.

At a glance, the gurdwara looks like an old haveli. The current condition is not very good, and over time the building has undergone some alterations, especially the main entrance and the room above it. At present, the ground floor is used for boys, while the first floor serves as the girls’ section.

Pir Muhammad Afzal Hussaini

Pir Muhammad Afzal Hussaini Sahib is the administrator of the Madrassa Hussainia Hanafia, which is currently housed in this building. His father, Maulana Hakim Hafiz Sharifuddin Karnalvi, was a prominent religious figure of Karnal city. Maulana Sharifuddin Sahib ran a madrassa in Karnal before Partition, which still exists. After independence, the whole family migrated to Pakistan, and he established the madrassa in this gurdwara building. Maulana Sahib died in 1980.

Maulana Sharifuddin Sahib was active in politics and participated in the elections of 1946 against Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, who was their neighbour as well. Maulana again contested the elections in 1970 as a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.

Pir Afzal Sahib is doing his best to run this madrassa, which is serving more than two hundred girls and boys, most of whom are provided accommodation and food on the premises. He also takes an active part in local affairs, especially those related to religious issues, and is a member of several committees working under different government departments. He is a humble and simple person and receives his guests with great respect and warmth. He extended his hospitality by presenting us with a box of dozens of kinnows at the end of our visit.

History of the Gurdwara:

The history of the gurdwara is well preserved in the plaques fixed on the main entrance of the gurdwara. I found around 20 plaques, which provide valuable information about the history of the construction of this gurdwara and the main donors. Though most of them are quite legible, a few are difficult to read due to coats of paint. At least two are completely illegible.

The first plaque is the most valuable; it provides the name of the gurdwara as Gurdwara Singh Sabha, affiliated with Chief Khalsa Diwan. Its foundation stone was laid on 30th Vaisakh, Samvat 446 (Nanak Shahi), i.e. 11 May 1912.

However, the construction started in the early 1920s; particularly in 1923 and 1924, it was in full swing. The plaques, providing the details of the donors clearly indicate that nearly all the donations were made during these two years. Remarkably, a small community of Sikhs built such a spacious and beautiful gurdwara, which would have served not only as a religious place but also as a cultural and social focal point for the community.

Singh Sabha & Chief Khalsa Diwan:

In the first plaque, we noted the mention of two Sikh organizations, Singh Sabha and Chief Khalsa Diwan. The following is some information about these two important organizations, which played a significant role in the history of the Sikh community.

The Singh Sabha Movement was an important reform movement among the Sikh community in the late nineteenth century. It was started in 1873 at Amritsar at a time when Sikh religious life was facing many challenges. The main aim of the movement was to revive the original teachings of the Sikh Gurus and to remove superstitions and wrong practices that had crept in over time. It also paid great attention to education and established a number of schools and colleges. The movement played a key role in strengthening Sikh identity and preserving its religious and cultural traditions.

The Chief Khalsa Diwan was established in 1902 at Lahore. It was formed to bring different Singh Sabha groups under one central organization and to work for the welfare of the Sikh community. The Diwan took active steps in promoting education by setting up schools, colleges, and other institutions. It also represented Sikh interests before the British government and took part in social and religious matters of the community. In this way, it played an important role in organizing and guiding the Sikh community in the early twentieth century.

Our brief visit to this gurdwara was informative in many ways. It gave us a glimpse into the past and into the life and culture before 1947. It also drew our attention to the need to preserve and restore such old buildings, as they are an important link to our past. At the very least, the plaques could be preserved with some care and at a small cost. I hope the concerned departments will pay attention and make efforts to preserve this heritage as much as possible.

Tariq Amir

March 28, 2026.
Islamabad